The epic staredown on the dining table is on again. He looks at you with his puppy dog eyes and from here, it can get only worse. He might throw a fit because he does not want to eat “little trees” or he could put them in his mouth and throw a fit after – because he has eaten “little trees”.
Sigh.
We all have different experiences when handling mealtimes with our kids. It is not like we do not want them to eat the food they like, there is also the question of them getting enough nutrition that comes from fruits, vegetables, and other proteins. During their growing years, it is sooo essential that they get the good stuff to aid the growth of their muscles, bones, and brains.
If you are ever worried about what your children are NOT eating what they should, well, you have come to the right place for fun and creative tips!
The weight of worry and guilt during mealtimes with kids can be crippling. Whether your child has been a picky eater from the beginning or has just flipped from a lover of spinach and salmon to a refuser of anything but pasta, know that you are not alone.
According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019: Maternal and Child Health, 1 in 5 Malaysian children under five years are reported to be stunted and this has been on a steady increase since 2011.
The tug of war of constant badgering, reminding, bargaining, convincing, and even forcing your kids to eat healthily can lead negative attitudes towards food – all in the effort of trying to bridge the nutritional gaps in their diets.
But do not worry, we have got your back, mummies!
We have collected a list of tips from a few mummy-mummy sekalian and we are so excited to share it with you with hopes that it can ease your worries. We also want to empower you and your kids to have a healthy and happy dining experience!
1. Makan time is also storytime!
Diana’s mealtime experience with her four-year-old involved her little girl being afraid of food and picking rice one-by-one from her plate.
Diana devised a plan based on her girl’s interest. She found that she likes cartoons that solve puzzles. That was when she decided to tell stories that involve her daughter during mealtimes to distract her. Stories like catching the beansprouts on her plate with rice or picking ingredients in the witches’ cauldron to create a spell when dealing with soups.
“We laugh as I tell stories and feed her,” Diana says.
“Together, we build a positive association with food and create a pleasant dining experience.”
2. Foodie showdown with your kiddie
According to Linda, her boy is not adventurous with “new food”. He purses his mouth when he sees something he has never seen before on his plate. Linda then had an idea to turn the situation into a positive one. It takes a little reverse psychology but it has worked for her.
She now makes her mealtime interactive. She makes him the judge of a make-believe food show, where her son is the judge. He gets to vote on whether the food is yummy or yucky. But here is the catch – with this responsibility, he has to eat whatever that is on the plate before he can be a successful “judge”.
Linda said that her son really enjoyed doing this and is now more open to trying new food!
3. Pretty food must be delicious, too
Aishah’s then six-year-old daughter did not eat bananas because they smelled “funny”.
Since she had nothing to lose, she decided to be creative with her daughter’s lunch box – as practised by some Korean and Japanese mothers. She used a small cookie mould in the shape of a star and cut out the bananas in that shape. She put them on top of her oatmeal and made a moon out of honey drizzle.
When her daughter saw her breakfast that morning, she was excited and finished everything on her plate.
Explore colours by getting your kids to find and “eat the rainbow” in your fridge. Make it a friendly match between them to search for fruits and vegetables that match the colours of the rainbow, in order to encourage them to have a better relationship with food.
4. Engage the kids in menu making
Keshini’s two preschool kids are very involved in the “what’s for dinner?” menu.
Once a week, Keshini sits them down in front of a whiteboard and plans out what they would like to eat for the days when she cooks at home (usually weekday nights).
If she is introducing new food to the menu, she will print out a picture and they will choose when they want to have that meal. For example, she would introduce cauliflower lasagna by showing them a picture and telling what is in the dish. Her kids will then select when they want to have that meal and if they have any special requests that come with the dish. After all, most kids want to take part in “adult responsibilities”.
As an alternative, allow your kids to choose dishes that come from different parts of the world. Once a week, choose between Mexican, Chinese, or even Middle Eastern meals – just for fun!
5. Be on top of the nutrition game with VitaHealth Kids
After all that is said and done, all the plans above are not foolproof. They will certainly help, but it is also subject to your kids’ mood. That is why it is a good idea to have a back-up plan so you would not be sacrificing their needs for nutrients just in case they are not in the mood for your fun pre-planned food.
Introduce the brand-new VitaHealth Kids Gummies with Calcium and Vitamin D3 as part of their diet!
It contains Calcium and Vitamin D3 that strengthen bones and teeth, regulate muscle contraction, and strengthen immunity. It is very recommended for growing kids as its deficiency can lead to rickets, a condition that happens due to the softening and weakening of bones in little ones.
With the kiddos stuck at home with no time under the sun, it is time to introduce Vitamin D into their diet through supplements, especially during the MCO.
But hey, your kids are not going to care about minerals – that is why the gummies come in a fun shape with a zesty apple flavour. It is easy to chew and free from lactose (suitable for kids who are lactose intolerant and cannot get calcium from milk), allergens, and preservatives.
Do not stop there. You can introduce them to VitaHealth Kids Multivits Jellybean, too. It contains 12 key vitamins and minerals that help promote physical growth and mental development in the same zesty apple flavour.
It contains Vitamins A (for healthy eyes), C, E, and zinc (for the immune system), B3, B6, and B12 (for energy metabolism), D and K1 (for strong bones and teeth), biotin (for healthy hair, nails, and skin), and iodine (for normal physical growth and brain development).
Both of these VitaHealth Kids products will surely be a ‘favourite’ vitamin for your little ones as they prioritise supplementing their diets in a fun way. All their products are also fitted with a child-resistant cap so they cannot take it without your knowledge.
If you want to know more about other VitaHealth Kids products, visit their website here. Recently, VitaHealth has introduced some tiger characters namely Gogo, Emma, Loki, and Paco that adorn the VitaHealth Kids packages and supplements. Introduce these cute mascots to your kids and it will definitely make it easier for you to get them to try the supplements.
You can even download VitaHealth mascot WhatsApp Stickers, so you can make any conversation more fun! They are here to journey with your kids to keep them on track toward a healthy body and normal physical development.
Lastly, get your hands on VitaHealth Kids supplements today at CARiNG Pharmacy, AA Pharmacy, and all leading pharmacies. Or if you do not have the time to go out, just buy them online on Motherhood.com.my.